6G launch planning should start now to avoid another 5G mess – FCC Mar. 1st 2022 New Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel has today told delegates at the Mobile World Congress that 6G launch planning should begin now, even though switch-on is not expected until 2030. Her remarks follow the embarrassing clash between…
Rocky Mountain states to team up on hydrogen tech proposal
Rocky Mountain states to team up on hydrogen tech proposal February 24, 2022 Four Rocky Mountain states will cooperate on developing ways to make the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, more available and useful as clean-burning fuel for cars, trucks and trains, the states’ governors announced Thursday. Colorado,…
Putin’s threat of ‘consequences’ heightens worries about Americans’ electricity
Putin’s threat of ‘consequences’ heightens worries about Americans’ electricity 02/25/2022 The war in Ukraine is renewing fears of a Russian cyberattack on the U.S. — and the danger that such a strike could spiral into a wider conflict between the two powers. U.S. officials have worried for years about a…
Feds rescind license extension for Florida nuclear plant
Feds rescind license extension for Florida nuclear plant February 26, 2022 Federal officials have reversed a decision to allow a South Florida nuclear power plant to continue running for another 30 years by ordering a new review of potential environmental risks, including those posed by climate change. Read more
What the Russia crisis means for U.S. electricity mix
What the Russia crisis means for U.S. electricity mix 03/01/2022 Gasoline prices have spiked in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the effects of the conflict are also spilling into the U.S. electricity sector, with implications for greenhouse gas emissions and energy policy. Although the crisis isn’t expected…
Global methane emissions seriously under reported, IEA analysis finds
Global methane emissions seriously under reported, IEA analysis finds Energize Weekly, March 2, 2022 Global energy sector methane emissions are an estimated 70 percent higher than the figures reported by countries to the United Nations, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Nations report emissions to the United Nations Framework…
Dakota Access pipeline: Supreme Court turns away challenge over tougher environmental review
Dakota Access pipeline: Supreme Court turns away challenge over tougher environmental review Feb. 22, 2022 The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a dispute between the company that operates the Dakota Access oil pipeline and several Native American tribes who say the project requires a more thorough environmental review. Read more
Cyber insurance premiums soar for energy companies
Cyber insurance premiums soar for energy companies Feb. 18, 2022 Cyber insurance rates are rising because of geopolitics, ransomware, a growing threat to operational technology, and continued fallout from last year’s Colonial Pipeline attack, say experts. Read more
Clean power faced headwinds in 2021 and the pace of installations faltered
Clean power faced headwinds in 2021 and the pace of installations faltered Energize Weekly, February 23, 2022 Clean power installations – wind, solar and battery storage – were down slightly in 2021 as the various sectors face challenges ranging from tariffs to expiring tax credits to regulatory uncertainty, according to…
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport pledges net-zero by 2050
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport pledges net-zero by 2050 February 14, 2022 Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the US has unveiled its first carbon policy, incorporating various green measures to reduce emissions. The airport has committed to reaching the City of Atlanta’s 100% Clean and Renewable Energy by 2035 objective and the ACI…
Projects to address water, air pollution in Permian Basin grow along with fuel demand
Projects to address water, air pollution in Permian Basin grow along with fuel demand Feb. 14, 2022 As oil and gas markets continued to grow along with operations in the Permian Basin early this year, so too did efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of the industry. Read more
Blocking Microgrid Cyberattacks To Keep The Power Flowing
Blocking Microgrid Cyberattacks To Keep The Power Flowing February 14, 2022 As microgrids grow more complex, they require sophisticated computer networks to coordinate, control and distribute different sources of power. Like any network, they are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Read more
DOE Establishes $6 Billion Program to Preserve America’s Clean Nuclear Energy Infrastructure
DOE Establishes $6 Billion Program to Preserve America’s Clean Nuclear Energy Infrastructure FEBRUARY 11, 2022 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released a Notice of Intent (NOI) and Request for Information (RFI) on the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program. The nuclear credit program supports the continued operation…
Former Ohio regulator linked to $4M payoff directed agency to limit response to FirstEnergy corruption
Former Ohio regulator linked to $4M payoff directed agency to limit response to FirstEnergy corruption February 15, 2022 Newly produced documents show that Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, came up with the idea to let FirstEnergy show it didn’t use ratepayer money for House Bill…
New clean generation technology is needed for the West to achieve 100 percent clean electricity
New clean generation technology is needed for the West to achieve 100 percent clean electricity Energize Weekly, February 16, 2022 The West could run on 90 percent clean electricity by 2040 with existing renewable generation and storage, but to get to 100 percent, new, clean generation filling the same baseload…
How A New Jersey Water Official Uncovered The Source Of 1,4-Dioxane In A Major National Supply
How A New Jersey Water Official Uncovered The Source Of 1,4-Dioxane In A Major National Supply February 1, 2022 Years ago, a dangerous drinking water contaminant was found in one of the country’s most significant source water supplies. And now it’s come to light that, were it not for a…
Biden extends, but modifies, Trump-era solar tariffs, says official
Biden extends, but modifies, Trump-era solar tariffs, says official FEB 4, 2022 U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday extended Trump-era tariffs on imported solar energy equipment by four years but in a major concession to the renewable energy industry excluded a panel technology that dominates the market for big projects. Read more
Cheniere completes new Sabine Pass LNG export unit in Louisiana
Cheniere completes new Sabine Pass LNG export unit in Louisiana February 7, 2022 U.S. liquefied natural gas company Cheniere Energy (LNG.A) on Monday said it had finished construction of a sixth liquefaction unit at its Sabine Pass LNG export plant in Louisiana, paving the way for higher commercial exports. Read more
Fukushima operators send robot into worst-hit melted reactor
Fukushima operators send robot into worst-hit melted reactor 2/8/22 A remote-controlled robot on Tuesday was used to probe the hardest-hit nuclear reactor at Japan’s wrecked Fukushima plant, as officials push forward with clean-up operations that have been mired in delays and controversy. Read more
EPA science advisers recommend tighter soot air quality standards in draft document
EPA science advisers recommend tighter soot air quality standards in draft document 02/07/22 In a new draft document, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) science advisers recommended that the agency tighten its air quality standards for soot pollution after the Trump administration declined to make such a move. Read more
Peco parent Exelon completes spinoff of its power generation business
Peco parent Exelon completes spinoff of its power generation business Feb 2, 2022 Exelon Corp. on Wednesday completed its separation into two companies: a new generation and marketing business that owns the nation’s largest fleet of nuclear power plants, and a Chicago-based utility giant whose operations include Peco, Atlantic City…
After a record-breaking 2021, Global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022
After a record-breaking 2021, global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022 Energize Weekly, February 9, 2022 After a record-breaking 2021, global electric passenger vehicle (EV) sales are poised to surge again in 2022, reaching 10.5 million, a nearly 60 percent annual increase, according to new analyses of…
Water board slaps Morro Bay with multiple notices of violation
Water board slaps Morro Bay with multiple notices of violation January 31, 2022 The City of Morro Bay has received several notices of violations for failing to abide by pollutant discharge requirements at the city’s water reclamation facility construction site. Read more
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack Feb. 1, 2022 wo companies involved in storing and supplying oil and other materials said Tuesday they have been hit by a cyberattack that has impacted operations in Germany. Read more
Colorado to request $25M in federal aid to help clean up its more than 1,200 orphan wells
Colorado to request $25M in federal aid to help clean up its more than 1,200 orphan wells Jan 31, 2022 Colorado is seeking $25 million from a federal fund to plug orphan oil and gas wells, state officials said, in what could be the first installment of millions in cleanup…
EPA restores rule to limit power-plant mercury emissions
EPA restores rule to limit power-plant mercury emissions January 31, 2022 In yet another reversal of a Trump-era action, the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will resume enforcement of a rule that limits power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants. Read more
Can A Smarter Grid Jolt The U.S. Economy And Circumvent Climate Change?
Can A Smarter Grid Jolt The U.S. Economy And Circumvent Climate Change? Feb 1, 2022 The electric grid is evolving and adapting to the 21st Century market place. America’s brain trust is developing bells and whistles to increase reliability and to maintain affordability — in the context of bolstering the…
Cleantech investments soar to a record $755 billion in 2021, BNEF says
Cleantech investments soar to a record $755 billion in 2021, BNEF says Energize Weekly, February 2, 2022 A record $755 billion was invested in energy-transition technologies in 2021 – a 27 percent increase over 2020, according to energy consultant BloombergNEF (BNEF). In addition, climate-tech companies raised $165 billion in equity…
Emergence of the New Payments Paradigm – The Case for Utility CX Transformation
Emergence of the New Payments Paradigm – The Case for Utility CX Transformation By Paridhi Gupta, Marketing, Smart Energy Water Utilities across the geographies have started their journey to improved customer self-service capabilities. Now millions of people enjoy the digital convenience of managing their utility account, tracking usage, paying bills,…
As utilities consider ESG options, Kinder Morgan’s ‘responsibly sourced natural gas’ plan faces scrutiny
As utilities consider ESG options, Kinder Morgan’s ‘responsibly sourced natural gas’ plan faces scrutiny Jan. 25, 2022 Tennessee Gas’ mid-December proposal for shipping and trading RSG comes as utilities are looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to natural gas. Read more
PJM seeks reserve market rehearing from FERC, proposes capacity auction schedule
PJM seeks reserve market rehearing from FERC, proposes capacity auction schedule 24 Jan 2022 PJM Interconnection has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a rehearing in its reserve market proceeding because a recent FERC order departs, without adequate explanation, from prior findings that resource procurement costs to alleviate power…
Tri-State reaches agreement with more than two dozen parties on resource plan
Tri-State reaches agreement with more than two dozen parties on resource plan January 20, 2022 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a wholesale power provider serving rural utilities in Colorado and three other states, has reached a settlement with several parties on a plan aimed at cutting costs for ratepayers and…
A rise in U.S. renewable generation to reduce fossil-fuel electricity in coming years
A rise in U.S. renewable generation to reduce fossil-fuel electricity in coming years Energize Weekly, January 26, 2022 Generation from renewable energy sources, primarily wind and solar, will reduce fossil-fuel generation over the next two years in the U.S., even as the country’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are set to…
The U.S. is divided over whether nuclear power is part of the green energy future
The U.S. is divided over whether nuclear power is part of the green energy future January 18, 2022 As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources might not…
Oil and Gas M&A activity rebounds in 2021, but is still off pre-pandemic pace
Oil and Gas M&A activity rebounds in 2021, but is still off pre-pandemic pace Energize Weekly, January 19, 2022 Oil and gas industry upstream mergers and acquisitions (M&A) rebounded in 2021 rising 25 percent to $66 billion compared to pandemic-hobbled 2020, according to a report by industry analyst Enverus. After…
Adding Intelligence to Outage Management with Integrated Cloud-Based Digital Platforms
Adding Intelligence to Outage Management with Integrated Cloud-Based Digital Platforms January 17, 2022 By Paridhi Gupta, Marketing, Smart Energy Water “The grid is not ready for the 21st century.” “Climate change will lead to frequent outages, and utilities are unprepared.” Headlines such as these have become commonplace. Nothing eye-opening about…
W&T Offshore (WTI) to Acquire Gulf of Mexico Assets for $47M
W&T Offshore (WTI) to Acquire Gulf of Mexico Assets for $47M JAN 11, 2022 W&T Offshore, Inc. signed an agreement to acquire interests in producing properties in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico for $47 million. W&T Offshore will acquire oil and gas producing shallow water assets at…
Insurance Companies Sue Texas Power Grid Operator Over 2021 Winter Storm Losses
Insurance Companies Sue Texas Power Grid Operator Over 2021 Winter Storm Losses January 7, 2022 More than 100 insurance companies are suing the Texas power grid operator and several power-generating companies (PGCs) over losses suffered from 2021 Winter Storm Uri, which resulted in more than 500,000 insurance claims and approximately…
In plan to state regulators, Idaho Power phases out coal by 2028
In plan to state regulators, Idaho Power phases out coal by 2028 January 8, 2022 Idaho Power has submitted a 20-year plan to state regulators that phases out coal-fired power plants by 2028 as part of its effort to provide only clean energy by 2045, the company said Tuesday. Read…
Evergy Files Missouri Rate Review to Recover Costs to Modernize Grid, Improve Reliability and Enhance Customer Service
Evergy Files Missouri Rate Review to Recover Costs to Modernize Grid, Improve Reliability and Enhance Customer Service January 7, 2022 Today Evergy submitted a detailed rate review to the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC). The requested rate adjustment reflects investments to improve reliability, enhance customer service and enable the company’s transition to cleaner energy…
US: Telecom operators agree to 5G delay in U-turn decision
US: Telecom operators agree to 5G delay in U-turn decision 1/4/22 Two major US telecom operators, AT&T and Verizon, agreed on Monday evening to a further two-week delay to a planned rollout of 5G networks across the country. The decision followed a request by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on behalf of aviation…
Revised EPA Lead and Copper Rule Requires Cities To Complete Lead Service Line Inventories
Revised EPA Lead and Copper Rule Requires Cities To Complete Lead Service Line Inventories December 20, 2021 Now according to the EPA Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) revision (announced December 16, 2021), public water systems have more work to do. LCR requires cities to develop a lead service line inventory…
Lawsuit Seeks to Block 2 Geothermal Power Plants in Nevada
Lawsuit Seeks to Block 2 Geothermal Power Plants in Nevada Jan 3rd, 2022 Conservationists and tribal leaders are suing the U.S. government to try to block construction of two geothermal plants in northern Nevada’s high desert that they say will destroy a sacred hot springs and could push a rare…
US natural gas faces wild 2022 as foreign crises exert pull
US natural gas faces wild 2022 as foreign crises exert pull Jan 1, 2022 U.S. natural gas is in for another wild year as the insularity that once shielded North American energy consumers from overseas turmoil disintegrates. Benchmark American gas futures climbed almost 45% in 2021 for the strongest annual…
Germany Rejects EU Proposal for Nuclear Energy, Will Rely on Natural Gas
Germany Rejects EU Proposal for Nuclear Energy, Will Rely on Natural Gas 1/3/22 Germany’s government on Monday rejected the European Union‘s proposals to include nuclear energy in the bloc’s climate-focused plans and investments for the future. Instead, the European nation plans to lean heavily on natural gas as an energy source…
ERCOT says generation, transmission ready for winter following on-site inspections
ERCOT says generation, transmission ready for winter following on-site inspections 30 Dec 2021 Generation and transmission facilities in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market are ready for winter, ERCOT said Dec. 30 after inspecting more than 300 generation units and 22 transmission facilities representing 85% of the megawatt hours…
Pandemic-hobbled economy in 2020 led to the lowest U.S. carbon emissions in 37 years
Pandemic-hobbled economy in 2020 led to the lowest U.S. carbon emissions in 37 years Energize Weekly, January 5, 2022 The COVID pandemic depressed U.S. economic activity so much in 2020 that carbon emissions dropped to their lowest level since 1983, with an 11 percent decrease in emissions over 2019 to…
After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022
After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022 Energize Weekly, December 29, 2021 The shale oil sector’s recent financial recipe of generating cash flow and tamping down capital expenditures may change in 2022 as drilling budgets increase due to factors ranging from…
BP to buy out U.S. pipeline partnership in $723 mln deal
BP to buy out U.S. pipeline partnership in $723 mln deal December 20, 2021 BP (BP.L) will acquire the remaining stake in its U.S. pipelines partnership BP Midstream Partners LP (BPMP.N) that it doesn’t already own in a more than $700 million deal, as the energy giant looks to simplify its structure. Read more
Mon Power and Potomac Edison Propose Environmental Compliance Program for Power Plants
Mon Power and Potomac Edison Propose Environmental Compliance Program for Power Plants Dec 17, 2021 Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), have applied to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia for approval to undertake a multi-year environmental compliance program at the companies’ two regulated power plants, Fort…
